INGLEWOOD, California – There was a sense of optimism when the U.S. men`s national team gathered in Los Angeles last week before the Concacaf Nations League semifinal, a tournament they had previously won. Coach Mauricio Pochettino had recently suggested the U.S. could become the best team in the world within ten years, echoing his ambitious goals for the team.
However, after two consecutive losses in the CNL, including a 2-1 defeat to Canada at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Pochettino urged USMNT fans to remain positive. Following a 1-0 loss to Panama in the semifinal, there was a case to be made that the U.S. played better. But against Canada, despite Canada`s more open style, the USMNT only managed five shots and 0.74 expected goals. These underwhelming performances led Pochettino to try and reassure fans.
“I want to tell the fans, don`t be pessimistic or feel bad,” Pochettino said after the Canada loss. “Losing is always painful, but we need to accept it. I don`t want people to feel pessimistic. We are all disappointed that we didn`t win, and the fans should feel that disappointment.”
He then promised:
“We will find a way to improve our performance.”
Pochettino and his players agreed that changes are necessary. They believe these results require reflection before they meet again in June for friendlies and the Gold Cup, their last competitive games before the next World Cup. It`s difficult to pinpoint one specific problem, which is perhaps not surprising given the team`s recent struggles.
The coach considered whether he needs to adjust his training camp approach but remains focused on building a competitive spirit before implementing tactical ideas. He expressed satisfaction with the players` attitude but suggested they were playing on autopilot during these matches.
“When it`s not your natural way of playing, you can maintain it for a while, but not consistently,” he explained. “We realized our performance against Panama wasn`t good, and we discussed how to move away from playing automatically. You resort to what feels safe and familiar. When it`s not your normal habit, you`re conscious. You think, `I need to press, I need to go forward, I need to change the tempo when we have the ball.`”
Christian Pulisic supported this, especially regarding the difference between the USMNT`s and Panama`s intensity on Thursday, although he finds discussions about intensity levels somewhat simplistic.
“It`s easy to say after a loss that the other team was more aggressive and had more heart,” Pulisic said. “I do see that, especially with Panama, how much it means to them. It`s like their everything, the biggest game, and that`s something we can learn from.”
Tyler Adams highlighted inconsistent individual performances as hindering the USMNT`s ability to perform well as a team.
“I think there needs to be a collective of better individual performances. Good individual performances in international football usually create momentum,” Adams stated. “You find support, positivity within the team, and combining individual performances leads to a good team performance.”
Pochettino: “We Have Time”
The CNL games were always meant to assess the USMNT`s progress as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup at home, which many hope will boost soccer`s growth in the U.S. A strong performance by the U.S. team is central to this growth. While Pochettino`s initial months were positive, these recent games have caused some to question the team`s potential.
This USMNT version is achieving traditional success markers differently than previous teams. Most of the core players are based in Europe, with a record 11 players in this season`s UEFA Champions League. Some, like Christian Pulisic and Antonee Robinson, are top players in their leagues. However, many are squad players for their clubs, and some, like Matt Turner and Gio Reyna, have struggled for consistent playing time for years. It`s arguable that their inconsistency has limited their development and that this promising group hasn`t significantly improved since the 2022 World Cup.
The European-based players bring some challenges – like fatigue from long flights to Los Angeles and limited training sessions before the first game. Missing key players due to injury, such as Robinson, Sergino Dest, and Folarin Balogun, also created less than ideal conditions for building a new identity under a new coach. However, they continue to trust the process, despite its newness, because of the significant task ahead.
“Our journey is about growing soccer in America,” Adams said. “If you`re negative about what we`re trying to build, the sport won`t grow. We want to be the catalyst for growth, and success is needed to inspire optimism. We need to work harder and become a team that people can support, whether through passion, playing style, winning games, scoring great goals – winning breeds optimism.”
Pochettino also noted that experiencing growing pains now is better than next year.
“We need to change, and while I`m not happy with the results, there`s something to learn from negative outcomes. It`s better now because we have time. If we`re having this conversation in a year, it means we have a big problem and haven`t been able to figure out the best strategy to help the team play differently. We have time, and I prefer this happening now, not in a year.”
There’s an argument that the USMNT will learn valuable lessons from this disappointing CNL Finals, although they haven`t shown significant progress beyond the learning stage in recent years. With about 15 months until their World Cup opener, time is running out.
Luna Seizes His Opportunity
While many things went wrong for the USMNT last week, midfielder Diego Luna received universal praise on Sunday. After participating in January camps for MLS players in 2024 and 2025, the 21-year-old was called up to the full squad for this camp. He started against Canada and assisted Patrick Agyemang`s first-half goal. Pochettino highlighted Luna as a standout player on Sunday, using him as an example.
“Diego Luna played well,” he said. “His desire and hunger are what we want, and this is not to criticize anyone else. He`s just one example. When I told him he would play today, he was ready.”
Pulisic was equally positive about Luna, playing with him internationally for the first time on Sunday.
“He`s an awesome kid,” Pulisic said about Luna. “He has a bright future. You could see it today. He brings something different. He`s got heart, and I love his playing style. He has a big future ahead.”
It`s an impressive rise for Luna, who was initially left off the U-23 USMNT`s Olympics roster and declined an alternate spot, even considering representing Mexico. He came to this month`s games highly motivated, which resulted in him becoming officially tied to the USMNT.
“Not being well-known and not playing in Europe yet, things like that,” Luna explained about his mindset entering camp. “My path has been different from many players, from academy to USL to MLS, dealing with not playing and now starting. It`s been a different journey, and I`ve always had a chip on my shoulder.”
He also made a comment that Pochettino would likely appreciate.
“I come from a tough background and have had to fight for everything,” Luna said. “It`s easy for me to want more, work harder, and provide for my family, my son, my parents. It`s about playing for my country. What more motivation do you need? Playing for your country is the biggest step in soccer.”
Benedict Kingsley